Variety of Hosta plant named &#39;BERSUN&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Hosta  plant named ‘BERSUN’ characterized by its relatively compact growth habit with a medium green foliage highlighted by a soft chartreuse variegation pattern and an abundance of pale lavender flowers.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Hosta,botanically known as Hosta fortunei marginata-alba and further known bythe varietal name ‘BERSUN’. This new variety is also sold under thetrade name SUNDANCER (Breeder's Ref. No. H 90-46). The new variety wasdiscovered in a selective breeding program by the Inventor, Leo Berbee,in Lisse, The Netherlands in 1990. The new variety is a sport selectionfrom a Hosta fortunei marginata-alba. The new cultivar was selected fromthe progeny of this sport selection in a controlled environment by theinventor in Lisse, The Netherlands. These divisions were selected andpropagated through rhizome divisions selecting for differences in growthhabit and distinctive leaf color pattern.

Continued observation of the vegetative divisions resulting from asexualreproduction of clump divisions taken at Lisse, The Netherlands haveconfirmed that the distinguishing features of this new cultivar cametrue, remain stable and are retained through successive propagations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the cultivar ‘BERSUN’ have not been observed under allpossible environmental and cultural conditions. The phenotype may varysomewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, lightintensity, length of day, irrigation amount and frequency, and/orfertilizer rate without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe among the unique characteristics of ‘BERSUN’. These characteristicsdistinguish ‘BERSUN’ as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Relatively compact growth habit; and

2. Distinctive leaf color pattern with its medium green foliagehighlighted by a soft chartreuse variegation that may whiten whenexposed to heat.

Plants of the new Hosta can be compared to plants of the Hosta fortuneicultivar ‘Francee’ (unpatented). Compared to plants of the cultivar‘Francee’, the new Hosta is relatively more compact in its growth habitincluding shorter scapes with pale lavender flowers and foliage having adistinct color pattern including a soft chartreuse variegation anddistinct edge coloring.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is depicted in the accompanying colored photographs inwhich:

FIG. 1 shows the plant as a clump growing in a garden environment; and

FIG. 2 is a side-by-side comparison of the new Hosta on the left withthe comparator ‘Francee’.

The photographs depict the overall appearance of the new Hosta, showingthe colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in coloredreproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differslightly from the color values cited in the Detailed BotanicalDescription which more accurately describe the actual colors of the newHosta.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW PLANT

The following detailed description sets forth characteristics of the newcultivar. The data which defines each characteristic was collected fromasexual reproductions grown in an open greenhouse with irrigationprovided by drip feeding in a hydroponic system, and carried out by thebreeder at Clyde, Victoria, Australia, approximately 38 degrees, 9minutes South latitude at 16 m elevation. The plant histories were takenon five plants of ‘BERSUN’ potted into 150 mm pots and four plants of‘Francee’ potted into 200 mm pots.

In the following table of comparative features, color references aremade to The Royal Horticultural Society of London Colour Chart, 1995Edition. The color values were determined on plant material grown in anopen greenhouse. The comparator description was taken from the Time-LifeEncyclopaedia of Gardening. ‘BERSUN’ ‘Francee’ The Plant Plant GrowthRate Moderately vigorous Moderately vigorous Length of FloweringMid-December/mid- Season January through mid to late March Time ofFlowering Mid-summer (southern Mid-summer (southern Season hemisphere)hemisphere) Density Moderate Moderate Plant Shape Upright, irregularlyUpright, irregularly rounded rounded Growth Type Clumping Clumping MeanHeight (mm) 332 392 Mean Width (mm) 634 554 Leaf Color-Main 137B Darkerthan 137B Color-Edge 150D 2D Characteristics Petiolate Petiolate MeanLength (mm) 188.4 195.4 Mean Width (mm) 78.24 93.08 Apex Pointed PointedMargin Undulation slight to Undulation slight to very medium slightTexture Prominently veined Prominently veined Shape Petiolate to broadPetiolate to broad lanceolate lanceolate Petiole Size: Mean Length 228227 (mm) Size: Mean Width 8.6 at mid-point 11.98 at mid-point (mm) Color143C 137C, edge 2D Scapes Branching Non branching Non branchingarrangement sometimes with a leaf sometimes with one to part way up twoleaves Surface texture Smooth Smooth Mean Length (mm) 470 689.6 Meanstem diameter 3.74 6.3 (mm) (just below inflorescence) INFLORESCENCELength of flowering Mid-December/mid- period January through mid to lateMarch Shape Lily like Lily like Mean Number of 12.2 22.8 florets Meanfloret length 57.54 55.74 (mm) Mean flower head size 44.2 46.9 (mm)Lastingness of bloom 2 days 2 days Fragrance of bloom very weak andspicy very weak Profile Upper Flat Flat Profile Lower Wedge Shaped WedgeShaped Color Midzone outside 85D 85C Color Midzone inside 85D 85C ColorMargin inside 85D 85C Flower bud Shape Elongated thin to an Elongatedthin to an ovate final ⅓^(rd) ovate final ⅓^(rd) Mean Length (mm) (at60.14 66.94 time of sepal separation) Mean width (mm) (at 13 11.6 timeof sepal separation) Color 85A 85A Petal Number 6 6 Mean length (mm) (as21.7 20.92 at separation) Mean width (mm) 10.4 9.24 Arrangement 3 inner,3 outer 3 inner, 3 outer arranged arranged in opposition. in opposition.Connected Connected at at approximately approximately ⅓^(rd)⅓^(rd from apex) from apex Pedicel Mean width (mm) 2.38 2.38 color 85A85A prickles Nil Nil Mean Length (mm) 7.18 11.6 Basal Spot PresenceAbsent Absent Stamen Filament color 17B 17C Mean filament length 4.982.88 (mm) Anther color 145D 145C at base to 145D at top Mean antherlength 56.18 (top bends back 47 (top bent at right (mm) (base to bend)towards base) angle) Pistils Mean style length 67.1 (bent at right 57.3(bent at right angle (mm) angle at top) at top) Style color 145D 145CSeed vessel size Small Small Color 145B 144A Fruit Presence 6 valved,loculicidal 6 valved, loculicidal capsule capsule

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS

‘BERSUN’ is primarily distinguished from plants of the Hosta cultivar‘Francee’ and other hybrid cultivars of Hosta genus by its uniquelycompact growth habit and distinctive leaf color pattern. ‘BERSUN’ isknown as a vigorous perennial with a compact growth habit and appealingmedium green foliage highlighted by soft chartreuse variegation that maybrighten to white when exposed to heat. An abundance of pale lavenderflowers having a light, spicy fragrance frequently appear aboutmid-season on scapes rising about 18.5 inches (470 mm).

1. A new and distinct variety of Hosta plant, substantially as shown anddescribed.